Care Provider Breaches Resident’s Right To Services Of An Appropriate Standard 21HDC01877

A resident’s
rights under the Code of Health and Disability Services
Consumers’ Rights (the Code) have been breached by
Elmswood Care Centre (Oceania Care Company Ltd) and a
registered nurse, says Aged Care Commissioner Carolyn Cooper
in a report released today.

The female resident was
living with dementia and other health issues and was
admitted to Elmswood Care Centre for dementia-level care.
The failings in care outlined in the report cover the period
from her admission until her death.

The woman incurred
a forearm fracture, but the injury was not promptly
assessed, or documented, and her family was not informed
immediately. She also had multiple unwitnessed falls which
were not adequately documented or followed up with
appropriate care plans. Despite significant symptoms
accompanying the overall deterioration of the woman’s
condition, there was a lack of timely and appropriate
medical intervention.

The woman’s family were not
adequately informed about her changing symptoms or their
severity or changes to her care plan. The woman’s
condition subsequently deteriorated and an ambulance took
the woman to hospital where she was diagnosed with septic
shock and cellulitis. Sadly, she passed away ten days
later.

Ms Cooper found Oceania Care Company breached
the Code for failing to provide services of an appropriate
standard | Tautikanga.

The shortcomings in care
covered: care planning, monitoring and assessment,
documentation and communication, which combined led to
substandard care provided by multiple staff.

Ms Cooper
said that the deficiencies in the care provided to the
resident were systemic issues for which Elmswood bears
responsibility.

“Elmswood had a responsibility to
operate the dementia unit in a manner that provided its
residents with services of an appropriate standard,” said Ms
Cooper. “The overall deficiencies in care provided in this
case demonstrate a pattern of suboptimal care and a lack of
critical thinking from staff members.”

Ms Cooper found
the registered nurse also breached the Code for not
providing services of an appropriate standard |
Tautikanga.

The nurse failed to carry out necessary
observations, did not administer medications as required,
did not document or communicate effectively and did not
adequately monitor the woman’s condition or respond
appropriately to her health decline.

Ms Cooper
acknowledged the family’s distress and offered her
condolences for their loss.

Oceania Care Company Ltd
has acknowledged the findings and are taking steps to
address the issues identified in the report. Ms Cooper made
several further recommendations for the Elmswood Care Centre
in her
report.

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